Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Puck Drop: 8:30 PM ET
Broadcast: TNT, Sportsnet, ESPN+
Game Overview
The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars meet in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round playoff series, marking a rematch of last year’s Second Round battle, which Dallas won in six games. The Stars finished the regular season with 106 points (50-25-6), securing the second seed in the Central Division, while the Avalanche earned 102 points (49-29-4) to claim the third seed.
Colorado enters the series riding momentum, having won five of their last seven games, while Dallas stumbled into the playoffs, losing seven straight to close the regular season.
Season Series Recap
The Avalanche won the regular-season series 2-1-0, outscoring the Stars 13-11 across three matchups. Their most recent meeting on March 16 saw Colorado win 4-3 in overtime, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring the game-winner.
Key Players to Watch
Colorado Avalanche
- Nathan MacKinnon (F): Led the Avalanche with 116 points (32 goals, 84 assists), ranking second in NHL scoring.
- Cale Makar (D): The league’s top offensive defenseman, posting 92 points (30 goals, 62 assists).
- Gabriel Landeskog (F): Could return after missing three seasons due to injury, adding leadership and depth.
Dallas Stars
- Jason Robertson (F): Dallas’ leading scorer with 35 goals, but his status is uncertain due to a lower-body injury.
- Miro Heiskanen (D): A key defensive presence, but he has missed 32 games with a knee injury and may not be available.
- Jake Oettinger (G): The Stars’ No. 1 goalie, posting a 36-18-4 record with a .909 SV%.
Game Strategy & Key Factors
Colorado Avalanche
- MacKinnon’s dominance: He has 45 career points (17 goals, 28 assists) against Dallas, making him a major threat.
- Goaltending battle: Colorado’s tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood has been solid, but neither has extensive playoff experience.
- Special teams: The Avalanche must capitalize on Dallas’ recent penalty kill struggles, which dropped to 18.5% efficiency after the Four Nations break.
Dallas Stars
- Oettinger’s playoff experience: He has 47 career postseason appearances, giving Dallas an edge in net.
- Defensive depth: With Heiskanen potentially out, Dallas must rely on Ryan Suter and Esa Lindell to contain Colorado’s attack.
- Home-ice advantage: The Stars boast a 28-6-4 home record, making American Airlines Center a tough environment for opponents.
Colorado Avalanche – 135
Dallas Stars 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, April 18, 2025
